Fairmount Office - PO Box 336 - Caseyville, IL 62232 - (618) 344-3427 - FAX (618) 346-1051
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Arlington Office - PO Box 578 - Arlington Heights, IL 60006 - (847) 253-3670 - FAX (847) 253-1136
Featured Stallion of the Month XXXXX
MISCELLEANOUS
By Gary L. Moore
Once again, the Impact Fee money is still not released. This time due to the dispute over legal fees incurred fighting the Riverboats. When we finally get this money released we need to have a statewide party at the tracks. I think each tracks’ first race after the money is awarded should be a $ 5,000 Claiming Race with a purse four times the usual amount. Why? All of our meets are supported by the lower claiming ranks. I also think it should be an Illinois Restricted Claimer one for each sex. They should be called the Patience is a Virtue Claiming Series. I think we should have this every year just to remind ourselves of the things that happen when we work together and when we do not.
I hope this money is released without much further litigation as the purse structure really needs to be pumped up. Our entire industry is purse driven from breeding on up.
We had another drop in our foal crop this year. We had 347 Conceived and Foaled down from 434 last year and 423 Foaled only down from 484 the previous year. This is also the second year that Foaled only has outnumbered the Conceived and Foaled.
Another important issue is that we are getting dangerously close to that number of less than 700 foals. Once we dip below that number we are in danger of not being able to support our restricted program. This would occur in the three year old year of that crop. The attrition rate for foals not making it to the races is what we are up against. Foal deaths, injuries and illness, as well as just not having the talent or competitive mental capability.
On the very positive side, I believe that the addition of Fort Prado and Cashel Castle standing in Illinois will be a huge benefit to our program. These Stallions should have a great following with breeders that normally go to outside stallions. This is also a huge benefit to the Illinois program because we will not be exporting our money to other states for stud fees, board and veterinary costs. Hopefully these genetics will translate into more Bonus Money earned in the Illinois Conceived and Foaled Owners Awards for qualified races and stake races!
I sure hope they get booked full. Thank you to Team Block for supporting our program!
My wish list for Christmas: A mild winter so all our horses stay healthy and happy. No shortage of Candy Canes for the horses. No cancelled races due to weather. Everyone wins at least one race in December somewhere!
